Berea Report: Now, It's D'Qwell's Turn

TheOBR.com

12/14/2006

The rookie linebacker is the latest injured player on Cleveland's most famous M*A*S*H unit...

Things keep getting worse for the Browns.

Coach Romeo Crennel on Thursday announced starting inside linebacker D'Qwell
had surgery in the morning to repair a turf toe injury suffered last Thursday in
Heinz Field. Jackson has been ruled out of the game Sunday in Baltimore and is
probably headed to injured reserve for the final two games.

Defensive
end Orpheus Roye was put on ice with a left knee injury and Brian Russell was
put on I.R. Monday with a staph infection in his right elbow. Starting
cornerback Gary Baxter has been out of the lineup since tearing both patellar
tendons Oct. 22 when the Browns were playing the Broncos. He is still in
Cleveland Clinic almost eight weeks after being carted off the field. He hopes
to be discharged before Christmas

Jackson is
being replaced by Leon Williams, Simon Fraser is replacing Roye and Brodney Pool
has replaced Russell. Roye and Russell missed the Steelers game with their
injuries, which in part explains while Pittsburgh churned out 528 offensive
yards. Now Jackson, second in tackles behind Davis, is also out as the Browns
prepare for the Ravens and their running back, Jamal Lewis.

Frye can't
throw

It looks
like the Derek Anderson show for sure in Baltimore. Frye did not throw a pass in
practice Thursday. He has not thrown a pass since the first half of the Kansas
City game.

Travis
Wilson practiced with the main offense Wednesday and Thursday. There is no
guarantee he will play against the Ravens, but what he did is a step up from his
usual chore of running with the scout team as the opponent's best receiver.

Wilson
admitted playing on the scout team was an adjustment mentally, particularly for
a player who was a star in college.

"It was
something I never experienced before," Wilson said. "At first it was tough. But
there's no point in pouting. I'm not going anywhere. I might as well get better
and earn the chance. I've learned that's how I earn respect from coaches and
teammates. I feel better as a player helping our defense."

When
Wilson was drafted he said he was the best wide receiver in the country. It was
apparent from the beginning he would be the third receiver in waiting.
Northcutt's contract expires after this season, and there are no plans to
re-sign him. Northcutt had one of the worst games of his career last Thursday
when he dropped three passes in Heinz Field. He said his shoulder injury had
nothing to do with dropping passes.

"It's no
secret what's going on," Northcutt said. "It is what it is. I'll always have a
smile on my face and I'll always keep my head up. Things will work out the way
they're supposed to.

"It's part
of a business. I'm not worried about it at all. I've never been a free agent. I
don't know how it's going to go. These three weeks, I'm going to do whatever
they want me to do and go on with life. One way or the other, I'll be happy."